Bottle-feeding mechanism



Dec. 22, 1925. 1,566,117 F. F. WOLF BOTTLE FEEDI NG MECHANI SM Filed Jan@ 8. 1925 s sheets-sheet 1 if CDCD q w w* Qfn ",O

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F. F. WOLF BOTTLE FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Jan, 8, i925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Illlll ,& A@ .n- Y I NQS F. F. woLF BOTTLE FEEDING MECHANISM Dec. 22, 1925- Filed Jan,- e, 192s 5 sheets-sheet :s

/1 fro/@w05 To all whom t may concern:

Patented Dec. 22, 1925.

y UNITED sia'riisfk 'f i BOTTLE-FEEDING MIIAEICHAIN'ISIM.j

' pplieation ledtJfanuary 8, 1923. Serial-1\To.'311,2`1.8.V v'

Be it known that L'FRANK F. WOLF, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Eriey and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Bottle-Feeding Mechanism, of which the following is aj specification.V

This invention relates to automatic feed means forfeeding articles such as cases or boxes containing milk bottles or'tlie liketo a machine such, for instance, asa bottle washing machine. More particularly lthe feed mechanism emhodyingthe invention is forl the -pulpose lof receiving the1 cases or articles from a-conveyor or the like on which they approach thel washing machine one in contact with another,k land automatically feeding them, one at a time, `in spaced meliation, so that k they may be properlyposi- 'tioned for engagement. by the usual feed mechanism of 'themachine i ,R

' In many dairies and similar plantsit is customary for the eased bottles to be un'- loaded from the vehicles directly on` to a conveyor or similar transporting. device which carries the casesofbottles yadjacent to a washing machine. Thecases are then removed by hand from the conveyoriand placed on a table at the receiving end` of the washing machine and pushed into the machine to a position Where they may .be

engaged by the feedrdevice ofthe machine.

This requires ythat care be exercised in placg ing the cases inthe machine since otherwise the feeding mechanism will fail jat timesxto properly, engage av case and so cause delays and ineffectual operation of the machina The cases cannot be fed directly by the conveyor into the bottlewashing machine, as such machines have heretofore been organized, owing tothe fact thatl the cases are fed in on` the conveyor in an irregular manner, sometimes touching one another and at other times relatively vfar apart and at varying distances, so that they would be imf .properlypositioned relatively to the feed mechanism of the machine.

lOne ofthe objects of this invention is to provide-automatic means for receiving the cases as they are delivered from the con;- veyor and feeding them, one at a ti1n e,*p`rop raam; F. WoLFfoF BUFFALO, NEW yYORK, AssIGNoR To RICE 'a ADAMS y'Comman- TioN, oF BUFFAL0,NEW YORK.

erly timed and in suchspacedfrelation that each one will be positivelyY engagedwand carried forwardby the feed mechanismof the machine.l i Anotherobject is tol provide` a positive stop l.for the foremost casev on the' conveyor, so that the subsequent cases will be arrested by 'the foremost case, therebyl providing-,a uniformgfeed of-the cases in 'closearray, together with means for .disengaging each successive'case from ,thelstop andmoving it to anintermediate position, Vand from such intermediateposition into proper relationto the mechanism of the machine. Y

vice for.)y causing the-51p,y the automatic feed means. lOther objects are ,tof improvefieedging means for machines ofthisy -sortin.,-other respects hereinafter setforth andclaimed.

, In the accompanying drawings :i

Fig- 1 is a toP` Plan view ofthe receivifigend of a bottle 4washingmachine, showing one embodiment of theautomat-ic feed mechanism of this `invention appliedthereto.

Fig.l 2 isa longitudinal vertical section on line 2-2, Fig. 1, also showingin broken lines` the adj'acentparts vofa conveyor for feeding thencases to the machine..

Figs. 3y and `4@A arel views similiarto Fig. y2, showing'the sameV parts of the machine in different ositions.l v

Fig. 5 is an elevation the machineyV i i Figs. 6 to 9 are detail figures showinggthe various operative positions of vthe trip mech'- of thel'ffr'ont anism` for causing'the'positive actuation ofV the feed means. i y,

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional ele'vav tionof the pusher memberof'thel feed `mechanism in an kintermediate position.

f-In the embodiment of the invention disclosed in the drawings4 the automatic feed mechanism isshown as applied to. abottle washing machine of well known type such for instance as lthe one illustrated in, Letters -1 Patent No. l1,421,055 of June 27, 1922, to Charles' S. Adams. Thisfmachine includes oppositely disposed Xed guide V,tracks `21,1011 which the cases rest-fand on Vwhich they are intermittently moved 'fromfone opeiatiye position or station in the machine toanother,

vare so'po'sitioned that each .pair 'will 'be caused to move 'a ease one 'ste-p forward, leaving 1t at rest on the guide tracks, and thenreturninfg :to en-gage fthe succeeding ease and carry it ahead on the ,next 4forward e lwhich, 1n the construction s hoWn, has side stroke. The finger bars may be connected lto a cross-head C movable horizontally for 'Ward and backward by the usual reciprocating mechanism i of 4.the :machine '5(not" shown) The guide tracks A are preferably secured fto'js'i'de Walls orframe men-bers'- -tl with their -front IVYends"terrninati-ng at somel distance-fromtheiends of-thes'id'e Wal-ls.

The meansI for feeding the cases D t the machine -ma'y 4be `--of vany suitable Aor usual sert, but ispreferablyaroller for gravity conveyor-as shovvnl ait E,"having ja series of rollers Ie' arranged 4adja-c'ejntdie front end of themachi'ne so that the -casesfwill be lsup- Vt'hemselve-5s constitute' no part this invenf' ported by the rollers and 'will pass fromthe conveyorbetween the Walls l Alflfoff these partsihjavelheretofore kbeen used-and of tion. v

y The `vframe 'of the bottle Waslring'1dr-treating machine is provided with a seriesof'iopi positely disposed rollers 'e"'-arranged-ontlie i rollers e lte v`receive Ithe cases astheyleavethe conveyor these rollers :supporting the cases at thefsides thereof 4'on-lyfse *tl-iatv the middleportions of y'the-casfes may be engaged by the :positioning mechanism Means areprovided for arresting the tcases after vthey ,a-re lfed onto the rollers e 'While f they arestill some dist ance from zthe*reciprocating iingers'b., The preferred means for this purpose, ,as shown, {comprisesa 'vpair'of stopsl Whicheonstitute the forward {er-ids e Iof horizontal Irails for restsv V16 rigidly secu-red to the frame members d andpreferablyar-y ranged somvvhat higher than'"therollers endofthe conveyor'lil.'

Vnated as `X,'vvhere the case may be engaged 'bythe next case, .to a position designated 'as `Xwvhere Ait will. be properly positioned lfor engagement by the 'first pair of vfingers b of-the bottley vtreating machine,v VVVh-ile ia case, is moved from'the position X'to the position X21-it Will' occupy two intermediate positions Xj X2, the easel-in the position X being `supported by the V'rests 16 embodying my and in the positionV X2 thecase rests on the i guide tracks A ready to be advanced to the position X3. When' the mechanism is operating at full capacity, each of these positions Will'jbe simultaneously v'occupied by different cases Vor crates.

rlhe means preferably employed for lift- YingY the cases ,from the rollers e te' therests 16 includes a. lifting frame or member 17 barslS connected by cross bars 19. The ends of the side bars 18' are preferably rounded as shoW-nfatQO so that the' lifting Y frameV 1,7vmay enter intoV the` hollow lower ends ofl the cases' `or era'tes to engage ,the usual :bottle-supporting vvire ibottoms d of of the crates D. Theflitfting frame vis adaptedto move-up a'nddovvn vii-ith refer ence `to ia reciprocat'oryv-or horizontally movfL able slide vor carriage which in the const-rue` tion shown includes al VIpair of transverse horizontal shafts 2Q secured to eppo'sitely disposed, 'longitudinal `slide members "23 y resti-ng land adapted to'slid-e' lon horizontal Vside guidesortracks24 secured tothe Wall-s Zrof the machine frame. f Y Any-'siiitaldle'means may be provided' `for tive-ly to the slide 'or carriage, 1n "th-"e *een-v struction shoW-n '2f-oi* this purpose, the lifting frame "'17 isy l provided "with *depending llugs 25 pivotally connected to arms '27, yof anpair Y raising and loyveringtlie lifting fram'ejre'laoffbell'cranksf26,-onefof which `is pivot-ed on each ofthe Y"'s'liaftsQQf.V *The :other -arins 28 i of the bell .cranks are'pivotally connectedjto a link fQ-Q, so that movement imparted `to 'this 'link Will-'first cause'both bell cranksjtoswing together on Atheir shafts to causeV anup 'for doWn'me'veinent-ofthe lifting frame 117 ,and

nponV further movementjof lthe link 219,' the slide or carriage Willgmove'longitudinally.

vof the tracks 24.

Any suitable 'device Vbeemployed for y moving the 7link 29 for: the apurpose stated,

but V",'IJreferarbly ythe `reciproeating mechanism which aetuates `the liinger -bars B is utilize-d, 'by AI-Jivota'il'ly connecting one-end of the ilink llO 29 'tothe cross-head C, as by` a Vconneeting rod o'r 'pitm'an 30,' which 'also' results Y N1n properly synchronizingvrthe'f'movements .of @the lifting `frame I7 with 'the fingers b lof the bars B; ln c'asetheposition- 1'ing mechanism fisused in 'connection with a machine having no reciprocatory feed lmech'- lanism, any other 'suitable means for reciprocating vvthevconnefzting `rod 30 maybe used. Upon referring to Figs. Q, 3. `and 4, it will be .seen that ja movement ofthe cross-'head 'C inthe Vtilirection ofthe arroyv,`or, to the right from the position shovvnjin Fig. l9 'Wilil impart a swinging `motion to the vbel-l cranks 26 resulting first in an upward movement of the lifting 'frame 1'7, which will engage' and f3, and the vcontinuedtravelofthe cross jliftthe caseat VX to lthe position shown in 0 Y justI above. the restsvv 1-6'.l VThe cross-headl C- head Cto the right will permit the carriage to move horizontally onzthe slides 23 to thevposition shown in Fig. 4, with the case has now reached Vits limit of travel to the right, and upon its `initial movement'tothe left, the bell cranks willfirst lower the lifting frame 17, leaving thecase on Vthe rest'sff 16, and will :then pass, while lowered, to the position shown'in Fig. 2.'

Any suitable means may be provided for limitingL the' upward movement-of the lifting framerela-tively tothe lslidable carriage andffor thisl purpose, yin the construction shown, stopr members or straps 31rv are employed which are securedgat their opposite ends to the cross members 19v of thelifting frame and the loweror depending portions ofwhich are adapted to engage'collarsor parts32 secured to one of the shafts 22. When the depending 'portions ofthe stop members'engagethe collars 32,l all further movement of the connect-ingrod 29 or pitman 30 to the right in Fig. 3 will'result in* longitudinal movement of the slide'membersA 23 on the tracks 24., The'downward movement ofMthe lifting frame or member relatively to thejcarriage limited in the construction shown vby means of down# wardly extending fianges 33 of the Aside bars 1-8'of the lifting frame, which 'flangesengage with ,the slides 23 lof the carriage", as shown in Fig.2. i Y .'Afte'r a case has been placed von, the lrests 16," lthe lifting frame 17, as explained, is actuated to engage 'another case and move it upwardly from the'stops 15 andthen for; wardly and during'this forward movement the front of this'case engages with the rear of the case on the rests 16 and pushes the latterca'se off of the rests 16 and onto the guide tracks A. In case the lifting frame carries no case, the front ends ofthe side bars of the lifting frame'will pushthe case'from'the-'rests `16 to the guide tracks'.

The means shown for advancing the cases from the position X2 to the positionX3 preferably comprise-'a pusher 'plate or member 34,' arranged'between-the sides'o'fj` the machine and lpivoted on the c'ros's-hea'd'C so that the plate will normally assumeI an .inclined position, as shown iiiFigs. .2, 3 a'nd 'inwhichposition the front edge thereof extends above'the guides and is adapted to engage the rear end of acase at vXwhen g the parts of the mechanism arein 'the initial position shownl in. Fig.' 2. This plate is pivotally connected to the cross-head C to move horizontally therewith, and consequently when the cross-head-C startsmoving to the right, the plate 34 will-move 1n the same-direction, engaging a case at 'X2 and carrying it forward while the first part of themcveinentiof the cross-head when transmittedto the lliftingframe 1,7, will cause "first a vertical movement'thereof through the action ofthe bell cranksy 26,"-

and then a horizontal movement tothe right.

stroke will be tilted by its engagementwith fS'o as' to ypermit p iiSsa; 'ge

the case above it under the case. ,v

It' r is Valso contemplated Itov provide Apositivelyacting means for preventing any'horif zontal'v forward; or backward movements yof thesliding carriage until 'the' lifting fra-me has rst'reac'hedits intended/upper or lower positions',respectively, to ensure the elevating of a case suflicien'tlyy to y'clear the lstops 15' on the forward stroke of the carriage and to lower Vthe lifting frame before beginning the return stroke.l The lmeans shown for'this purpose include two pairs of ydogs or vlatches 38 and 39, loo'selypivote'dfat opposite sides of the machine,I for instance on vthe ,shaft 22. The`,la'tches 38 extend downwardly towards lthe "right, with,A their outer ends jadjacentj to or contacting with fixed `stop bars 40, see 'particularlyFigs 649. In'theinitial position, Flgs. 2`fand l'6,f-t-he-ends* of the latchesv 38 abut against stops for 'shoulders swing the lower ends of the latches free of thestops 41 andl permit'lthev forward movementof' the carriage. Any suitable trip device maybe used for this purpose, such as sleeves'43 loosely surrounding the shaft.` 22 on which thelatches are' pivoted,a-nd having extendingfingersf 44E adapted to rotate inthe path ofthe lugs 42'.` the sleeves being suitably connectedfwith the bell crank 26 and movable therewith. The fingers 44 are s oposition'ed that they will rotate, without engagingthe lugs 42 until the carriage approaches its upward. limit, livheny the-latches willbe trippedas explained, and held by the fingers out of contact with the stop bars until the carriage reaches its .farthest righthand position as shown in Fig. 4. During this operation the other. pair of latches 39 will slide freely'over the stop bars and their ends will drop intoplace in engagement with stops '46, see Figs. A4 and 9. These latches are similarly actuated by a rotation of the fingers 44 in .an opposite direction to permit their release when the lifting frame 17 reaches its low-est position previous to its travel to theleft. Any other suitable device may be Vused 4to positively hold the vcarriage against` horizontal movements Vuntil itv has made theprop'er 'vertical movements forthe purpose stated.v

The mechanism., described is ofsimple jform .anvd.j an inexpensive .addition to machineslofthe sortmentioned. It is sturdy 'in construction :and positive .Tin operation and .not liable to get .out of order, and the described connectionsV between .the cross-head andthe feed mechanism ensuresv a proper cooperation ,offlthe feed positionin-glmeeha nism witliftheibottle treating .machine claim as Vmyinvention: L fl 1.11,. The .combination with .a bottle treating i Yinn'zhine*having .af feeddevice ,forpassing Vfeed device@ I, .Y

feeding and positlonlng mechanism, :the :combination with means-j for.

i' 2; In an article supplying articles vsuccessively Y lto za `starting position with -reference to ..=sai!d'mechan1sm,

' and v:a1-machine having "a reciprocating 'feed device to which' said l'arti-clesfare to be fed., of. an ini-tial :articlefadvancing.'4 device adapted to first elevate an article-and l`then advance the same,- connections between said reciprocating feed *device andsaida initial advancing `device which bca1ise,;a 'part of the reciprocating 1-'notion to be translated into motion for televating'the article, and a .second advancingY device' which reciprocates ywith sai-di feed device, whereby saidsecond ad-l vancing device' Vadvances the article to va greater sentent VIthan :said initial advancingl device to space the artic-les at intervals.

3. InY Iartic'le feeding mechanism, fthe combination with *',meai'is vfforsupplying articlesisnccessively vto 4a starting positionwith reference to'fsaid mechanism, vofa .reciprocfatory :carriage vmovable below saidaaticles, la'. frame .mounted 4on said 'carriage and adapted to move up .and down-relatively to thoxcarriage to engage article and lift the same, an arm connected with said cariiageand- .adapted to be swung to actufate said frame, la reciprocatory member con nectedwith-said arm for swinging :the same to laliniited extenttoV effect the up and down movement ofsaidv lframe -and ato causesaid carriage to reciprocate after the up and drown movement of the frame is completed, 'and mea-ns for 'holldingsaid :carriage against reciprocatory'movement duri-ng the up and down movement ofsaidframe.

4. In .an article feeding mechanism', the

catory carriage movable below said articles, av frame mounted. on said vcarriage andV adapted to .move Vup and. down relativelyto the carriage .to engage thearticle in the starting position and lift .the same, an arm connected with ysaid carriage ,and adapted to @be savung Ato :actuatesaid frame, a recipe rocatory member Vconnected withV said-Kann for v:swinging fthe same to a limited extent to eifect'the' up `an'itdo'wn movement. of said frameand tocause ksaid carriageto reciprocatefafter .the up and down movement of the frame ris completed, dogs mounted on .said carriage and adapted to hold said carriage against reciproca/tory :movement while Ysaid frame is. being .moved up and down, `and means lconnected .with said .arms for releassv ing said dogs .when said frame has completed its .up and do-wn movement.. 'y Inan article feedingl mechanism, the combination with means for supplying arti-v clessuccessively to starting position with reference to said mechanism,. ofv a reciprocatory carriage movable .below said articles, a; trame mounted on said carriageV and vadapted `toanove. up and^down relatively to the .carriageto-V-engage the .artic-le fin the startingposition and `lift the same, a. pair of bell cranks pivotally mounted ongsaid {ca-rriage and each yhaving yani arm lconnected with sai-d frame for effecting the up and `down movement thereof,- means for limiting the uplandpdownmovement -ofvsaid v.frame relatively to said can'riage Y reciprocatory meanslconnected with said lbell lcranks for.

cansin'gthe same to swing about their pivots to effect the np and down movement .of `said frame and to impart .reciprocatory movement to said carrifag`eand means for holding v*said :carriage lagainst reciprocatory movementl until 4said fram-e has completed -i-ts up land down movement. v Y

'l f6. Thecombinationwithfa machine .for vtreating bottles in cases, said 'machine'havf ing reciprocating feed means for ,passing said cases therethrough, and aconveyor for deliverin-gfsaid cases in contact, yone behind vthe. other to V.said machine, of fa stop for .suc-` cessi-velyarresting the cases as theyare -discharged from 'said conveyor, a fixed support adjacentlto and beyond said sto-p, and means for successively .lifting said cases away from said ystop and depositing them on saidsupf" port and then Amoving them from said` support to -'a position to be engaged .by said reciprocating feed means 7. The .combination ywith a 4machine for treatin@y rbottles in cases, said machine having reciprocating yfeed means for passing said cases therethrough, a guide on: which the lcases are supportedY during-.their ypassage through said machine, and a conveyor for said cases away from said stop and depoeitdelivering said cases in contact, one behind ing them on said iiXed support, and then the other to lsaid machine, of a stop for moving them to a position on said guide 10` successively arresting the cases as theyr are wherein they are adapted to be engaged by 5 discharged from said conveyor, a fixed supsaid reciprocating feed means. y

port arranged beyond said stop and in ade Vance of said guide, and means for lifting FRANK F. WOLF. 

